Hiking Hocking Hills, photos by Susan Komer

My previous post was of a rock climber I saw in Hocking Hills...today I thought I would post a few of the other great shots I was able to get while out hiking.  Yes, hiking is one of my all time favorite activities.  I really enjoy being outdoors, be it hiking the streets of the city or hitting the trails...if the weather permits, I can be found wandering with my camera.  One thing you won't be able to do is contact me via cell phone, its one of those things I just don't carry along while I'm out...one sure fire way to miss what's going on in the real world is to carry a cell...something I have no interest in! Please feel free to visit me on Flickr to view even more of my photographic works.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/123441024@N03/

Rock Climber photo documentation, Susan Komer

The Rock Climber's Adventure

While hiking in Hocking Hills State park yesterday I had stopped to let the kids swim in the falls.  While they were enjoying the water, this nice guy started climbing the rock.  I decided to document the journey.  I did warn him ahead of time that if he fell, as a photographer my first instinct would be to take pictures first, call for help after.  One of the things about being a photographer that I've noticed...somehow, when one is behind the lens, there is a certain amount of disconnect.  It's not malicious, just a zone one goes into.  Considering there was no cell service, I'm really glad this ended well! https://www.flickr.com/photos/123441024@N03/

photo work by Susan Komer

Some recent photos taken while exploring different dams & parks in Ohio.

Snake photos by Susan Komer

I do a lot of hiking all over the state of Ohio, its one of my most favorite things to do.  Snakes are one of my favorite finds as they usually spend most of their time trying to stay out of sight.  So when I can spot them, of course I need to capture them....in an image of course!  Here's one I caught last night, a sneaky little water snake coming up for air.

O'Shaughnessy Dam Dublin, Ohio Photography by Susan Komer

Yesterday while the twins were at their Spring formal I ventured down to O'Shaughnessy Dam in Dublin, Ohio to kill some time and was able to catch some great images.

Enjoy, and don't forget to follow my blog and plus one me to help share my work.  You can also find me on Flickr & instagram if you'd like to see more of what I'm doing.

Acrylic on panel sculpted painting by Susan Komer

So I have two paintings to share, one is a 22"x22" acrylic on panel...it is based on the other sculpted piece which is mixed media 16.5"x17.5" also on panel.  I began the smaller piece first, experimenting a bit with my medium.  As any artist knows...sometimes an experiment works...sometimes it doesn't.  In this case, my sculpture cracked...I kind of thought it might, but I went with it anyway and yes...cracks!  But, rather than toss the cracked piece in the 'never to be seen' pile, I decided to keep working it.  The painting is just about complete, the 3D sculpted piece is still being worked...but I thought I'd share them both on the same post so that you can see the two together.

The idea behind it...facing ones fears.  While I've been pursuing my dreams of art school and an art career for the past 5 years, I had spent the previous 20 as a stay home mom & wife.  Going back out into the world to pursue my own dreams was a terrifying thing to do...especially attending OSU where my peers are all younger than my own children.  Now, I'm one semester from graduation and more happy than I could have ever imagined.  Fear, what a thing...you either have to face it head on or let it hold you back.  I chose to face it, a choice I will never regret!

If you like what I'm doing, please feel free to find me on Flickr and instagram as well...work in progress is often posted on instagram and my Flickr account features lots of my photographic work.  If you like to hear my thoughts...this is the place to be!  Don't forget to follow me so don't miss my updates and to hit the google + to share my work with others.

Thanks for stopping by!

Acrylic painting on panel in progress by Susan Komer

I've been busy finishing up this semester of school...studying for exams, writing final papers and this...a final painting for my painting 2 class.  I've been working in acrylic on panel...the first panel I've ever constructed on my own.  It was an interesting and quite simple process really, once you get passed the fear of those friggen saws!  Yes they are dangerous and the noise is deafening...but the results of a panel are wonderful.  In the past I've stretched my own canvas and worked on papers, cardboard, and anything else that stayed still long enough for me to gesso...but panel is by far my favorite.

My original piece is a mixed media piece of this same image...though I must confess that through a bit of experimentation I had a catastrophic failure.  I was sculpting the image out of papier mache and wanted to see what would happen by adding an air dry clay to the mix...my greatest fear happened...massive cracking.  In its own way it is interesting to look at...so I'm continuing to work the piece, I'll be posting pics of that later.  For now, this is the work in progress of the acrylic on panel.  I used a glaze for the background/water...the rest is acrylic with retardant for the purposes of blending.

The hardest part seems to be waiting for one part to dry before I start hitting the next.  The painting is currently a bit further along than this, but I thought I'd at least update you all to where I am at this point with a photo of the painting from last night.  As I get a bit further with this one and the other...yes I fully intend to finish that other one...cracks and all...I'll post more pics.

Enjoy!  And don't forget, you can find me on flickr & instagram.  I hope you'll choose to follow me here on my blog & on my other feeds...thanks for stopping by!